“The Terminator” is playing at the Hawk theater downtown, and The Hawkins Post has front-page news about Baby Fae’s baboon-heart transplant.

The debut episode of “Stranger Things 2” includes these pop-culture references while hinting at an approaching storm of fright for Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair and other returning characters on the Netflix series.

Here’s a no-spoilers breakdown of sights and sounds in the episode released today:

Hey, Arnold: Hawkins isn't a metropolis, but its movie house gets the big films of the day. "The Terminator," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, arrived in theaters on Oct. 26, 1984. The sci-fi smash sold more than $78 million in tickets worldwide and inspired four sequels.

Red state: An election sign promoting the "Reagan-Bush '84" ticket is seen in the yard outside the home of Mike Wheeler. Ronald Reagan won his second presidential term on Nov. 6, 1984, carrying every state except for Minnesota (home state for his opponent, Walter Mondale).

Fit to print: The opening episode of "Stranger Things 2," titled "Madmax," features a full-frame look at The Hawkins Post. The weekly publication, billed as "Roane County's Independent Newspaper," sells for 25 cents per copy. In addition to touting a biggest pumpkin showdown between farmers Merrill Wright and Eugene McCorkle, the Post's front page reports on the groundbreaking baboon-heart transplant for Stephanie Fae Beauclair in Barstow, Calif.

Tape heads: A Family Video store is seen next door to the always-buzzing Palace Arcade. Founded in 1978, Family Video outlasted Blockbuster and still does business at more than a dozen locations in Central Indiana.

'Stranger' music: The episode includes six songs beyond the show's score: Devo’s “Whip It” (1980); Oingo Boingo’s “Just Another Day” (1985); the Romantics’ “Talking in Your Sleep” (1983); the Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane” (1984); Gary Paxton’s “Spookie Movies” (1963); and the Prehistoric Wolves’ “Every Other Girl” (2016). It's difficult to find any online trace of Prehistoric Wolves, but the band's self-titled album is available at iTunes and Spotify. IndyStar made this "Stranger Things 2" playlist for you.

Teenage dream: When Jonathan Byers is teased that he likely will spend Halloween listening to the Talking Heads and reading Kurt Vonnegut, he replies, "Sounds like a nice night." Vonnegut grew up in Indianapolis, and an entire nation of adolescents rallied around his work in the 1980s.

Up to date?: A "Hoosier State" license plate is seen on a Ford Pinto driven by Joyce Byers (portrayed by Winona Ryder). This style of plate was issued from 1981-83, giving way to the "Wander Indiana" plate in 1984.

Sheriff zinger: Hawkins Police Chief Jim Hopper (portrayed by David Harbour) delivered the iconic line "Mornings are for coffee and contemplation." in the first episode of the original "Stranger Things" season. For "Stranger Things 2," Hopper offers this retort to someone asking for a five-minute meeting: “I want a date with Bo Derek. We all want things.” Derek was a sex symbol of the era, known for her role in 1979 film "10."

Call IndyStar reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.